With All My Soul
Page 43
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Any chance you had something to do with that?
I might have told the car owner in question that Luca was looking to...expand his social circle. And theres a slight chance I might have been a bit overzealous in my amplification of your cousins worst fearwhich, at the moment, is losing everyone she loves. Including Luca.
Sabine! I swear, every time I think youre turning into a decent person, you do something to prove me wrong.
I was trying to expedite the process. I had no idea she was capable of vandalism. But I have to say, Im a little impressed. Which is why I let her dad and the cops think I slashed the tires, then made her carry the weapon. Hes in there right now trying to influence us out of here.
You took the blame because youre impressed that my cousin committed a crime?
Yeah. And I might be feeling a tiny bit of something similar to but definitely not the same as...guilt. Kind of.
I groaned into the phone and sank onto the couch again, with my elbows on my knees, my forehead resting in my free hand.
Is Luca there, too?
Yeah. Its kind of a public spectacle. Sophies totally humiliated, and Luca cant convince her that itll be all right. And shes refusing to tell him why she did it. Sabine made a wet chomping noise in my ear, and I realized she was chewing gum. At the police station. Like being there was no big deal. So, whats the emergency? Whatd you need?
Backup. When you guys get out of there, come straight here. And bring my uncle. I hung up before she could ask why, and I had to admit, hanging up on Sabine felt kinda good.
Next I called Harmony. She didnt answer her phone either, which was really weird. Harmony always answered her cell except when she was working, and her shift at the hospital didnt start until eleven. It was only four in the afternoon.
I dialed Tod next. When he didnt answer, either, I got so frustrated I nearly threw my phone at the wall. Where the hell was everyone? Well, Em was still at school, but she wouldnt be able to help me locate my father anyway. Neither would Nash, but...there was no one left to call.
He answered on the first ring.
Hey.
I am so glad you answered your phone. I pushed hair away from my face and leaned back on the couch, suddenly hating the empty house Id been thrilled with ten minutes earlier.
You...are? I could hear the confusion in his voice and the road noise in the background. He was in a car.
Yeah. I cant get a hold of anyone else. Where are you going?
Im picking up Emma in Sabines car. Binas at the police station with
I know. I just talked toher.
Didnt you just say people arent answering their phones?
She answered my uncles. Hey, have you talked to Tod today?
His silence stretched over the wireless line between us, and I realized Id said the wrong thing. I was getting really good at that. Is that all you want? You called me looking for Tod?
No, thats not all I want. But, yes, I called looking for him. Its important, Nash.
I havent talked to him since lunch. Why?
I need help, and I cant find him. Or your mom.
She crossed over.
Harmony was in the Netherworld? Why?
Shes looking for some kind of herb, or root, or leaf, or something to help Traci keep her baby. Which is a really dumbass idea, you know. Why on earth would you want to bring another incubus into the world when the last one killed you?
Its more complicated than that. And its not my decision. I exhaled, trying to decide exactly how close wed gotten to true friendship. Nash, I need help. Not that you owe me anything, so its totally okay if you dont want to help me, but Im asking. In fact, Im kind of begging.
Im in. He didnt even hesitate. Whats wrong?
Avari took my dad.
Seriously? I heard the squeal of his tires on pavement as he stomped on the brake. How? Is he okay?
I dont know. I dont have any of the answers, but I have to get him back.
Its a trap. You know this is a trap, right?
I know. Which is why I need help. If I went after him alone, I was as good as dead. Well, deader, anyway.
Okay, Im coming. Let me turn around....
No, get Em first, then meet me at my house. Please. I have to find him before we can go after him, anyway. Maybe by the time I manage that, well have more people willing to follow us into the breach.
Oh. I could hear the disappointment in his voice. Okay. Yeah. Ill get Em, and well meet at your place in half an hour.
Thanks, Nash. Just...thank you.
Anytime, Kaylee. That much hasnt changed.
Chapter Eleven
I stood alone in my high school cafeteria, feeling like a fool. The room was empty, but I was incorporeal anyway, just in case. Nash and Emma were probably pulling out of the parking lot at that very moment, but they had no idea I was there. I couldnt tell them, because theyd never let me do what I was planning. What, under normal circumstances, I would never even have considered.
I might have told the car owner in question that Luca was looking to...expand his social circle. And theres a slight chance I might have been a bit overzealous in my amplification of your cousins worst fearwhich, at the moment, is losing everyone she loves. Including Luca.
Sabine! I swear, every time I think youre turning into a decent person, you do something to prove me wrong.
I was trying to expedite the process. I had no idea she was capable of vandalism. But I have to say, Im a little impressed. Which is why I let her dad and the cops think I slashed the tires, then made her carry the weapon. Hes in there right now trying to influence us out of here.
You took the blame because youre impressed that my cousin committed a crime?
Yeah. And I might be feeling a tiny bit of something similar to but definitely not the same as...guilt. Kind of.
I groaned into the phone and sank onto the couch again, with my elbows on my knees, my forehead resting in my free hand.
Is Luca there, too?
Yeah. Its kind of a public spectacle. Sophies totally humiliated, and Luca cant convince her that itll be all right. And shes refusing to tell him why she did it. Sabine made a wet chomping noise in my ear, and I realized she was chewing gum. At the police station. Like being there was no big deal. So, whats the emergency? Whatd you need?
Backup. When you guys get out of there, come straight here. And bring my uncle. I hung up before she could ask why, and I had to admit, hanging up on Sabine felt kinda good.
Next I called Harmony. She didnt answer her phone either, which was really weird. Harmony always answered her cell except when she was working, and her shift at the hospital didnt start until eleven. It was only four in the afternoon.
I dialed Tod next. When he didnt answer, either, I got so frustrated I nearly threw my phone at the wall. Where the hell was everyone? Well, Em was still at school, but she wouldnt be able to help me locate my father anyway. Neither would Nash, but...there was no one left to call.
He answered on the first ring.
Hey.
I am so glad you answered your phone. I pushed hair away from my face and leaned back on the couch, suddenly hating the empty house Id been thrilled with ten minutes earlier.
You...are? I could hear the confusion in his voice and the road noise in the background. He was in a car.
Yeah. I cant get a hold of anyone else. Where are you going?
Im picking up Emma in Sabines car. Binas at the police station with
I know. I just talked toher.
Didnt you just say people arent answering their phones?
She answered my uncles. Hey, have you talked to Tod today?
His silence stretched over the wireless line between us, and I realized Id said the wrong thing. I was getting really good at that. Is that all you want? You called me looking for Tod?
No, thats not all I want. But, yes, I called looking for him. Its important, Nash.
I havent talked to him since lunch. Why?
I need help, and I cant find him. Or your mom.
She crossed over.
Harmony was in the Netherworld? Why?
Shes looking for some kind of herb, or root, or leaf, or something to help Traci keep her baby. Which is a really dumbass idea, you know. Why on earth would you want to bring another incubus into the world when the last one killed you?
Its more complicated than that. And its not my decision. I exhaled, trying to decide exactly how close wed gotten to true friendship. Nash, I need help. Not that you owe me anything, so its totally okay if you dont want to help me, but Im asking. In fact, Im kind of begging.
Im in. He didnt even hesitate. Whats wrong?
Avari took my dad.
Seriously? I heard the squeal of his tires on pavement as he stomped on the brake. How? Is he okay?
I dont know. I dont have any of the answers, but I have to get him back.
Its a trap. You know this is a trap, right?
I know. Which is why I need help. If I went after him alone, I was as good as dead. Well, deader, anyway.
Okay, Im coming. Let me turn around....
No, get Em first, then meet me at my house. Please. I have to find him before we can go after him, anyway. Maybe by the time I manage that, well have more people willing to follow us into the breach.
Oh. I could hear the disappointment in his voice. Okay. Yeah. Ill get Em, and well meet at your place in half an hour.
Thanks, Nash. Just...thank you.
Anytime, Kaylee. That much hasnt changed.
Chapter Eleven
I stood alone in my high school cafeteria, feeling like a fool. The room was empty, but I was incorporeal anyway, just in case. Nash and Emma were probably pulling out of the parking lot at that very moment, but they had no idea I was there. I couldnt tell them, because theyd never let me do what I was planning. What, under normal circumstances, I would never even have considered.
